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Christmas Season · Year C

Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Dawn Proper 2

December 25, 2027

Adoration of the Shepherds, Georges de La Tour
Adoration of the Shepherds, Georges de La Tour, c. 1644Musée du Louvre, Paris
One candle, shielded by a hand, and five people leaning in. The shepherd has brought a lamb; the ox is painted with the same attention as the people.The shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.Georges de La TourA Lorraine painter, lost for three hundred years and rediscovered in 1915, whose night scenes are lit by a single candle.Musée du Louvre, ParisA royal palace turned public museum by the Revolution in 1793, on the principle that what the king had owned now belonged to everyone.Musée du Louvre, Paris
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:(1-7), 8-20Lk 2:(1-7), 8-20
EpistleTitus 3:4-7Ti 3:4-7
Old TestamentIsa. 62:6-12Is 62:6-12
PsalterPs. 97Ps 97

Overview & Insights

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

With this scene, the fulfillment of the angel Gabriel’s announcements (1:11–20, 26–37) is complete. Both John and Jesus have been unexpectedly conceived, celebrated in prophetic songs, and born in remarkable circumstances. Each is already revealed as having a central role in God’s plan of salvation, but the angel’s words now emphasize that the good news is centered on the Messiah rather than on his forerunner.

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Take it further: Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20

Commentary

Commentary on Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20Commentary on Lk 2:(1-7), 8-20 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary exegesis on the shepherds' errand and their return glorifying God.

Luke 2:1-20 CommentaryLk 2:1-20 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed commentary tracing how Luke shows God's fidelity worked out among the lowly.

Luke 2 - The Shepherds' VisitLk 2 - The Shepherds' Visit Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the shepherds' witness and response.

Luke 2:8 CommentariesLk 2:8 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the angel's announcement to the shepherds.

Luke 2:8 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryLk 2:8 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the chapter.

Christmas Day II sermons Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

An Anglican preaching collection built for the Dawn service and its shepherd texts.

Background & Word Study

Overview: Luke 1-9Overview: Lk 1-9 BibleProject

An animated overview mapping Luke's opening chapters and the theme of good news for the lowly.

Luke 2:8 InterlinearLk 2:8 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and lexical helps.

The Church Fathers

Luke 2 (Catena)Lk 2 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments gathered on the chapter recounting the shepherds and their visit.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave: Christmas Day (Nativity II) Working Preacher

Luther Seminary faculty talk through the Dawn texts with preaching angles.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

A curated index of images for this reading across the history of Christian art.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: Luke 2The Text This Week: Lk 2 Textweek

A comprehensive lectionary link aggregator across commentary, sermons, and art for the passage.

Questions preachers ask

What does Luke emphasize in the birth of Jesus?

The Savior of the world is laid in a manger and announced first to shepherds; the heavenly host sings glory to God in the highest and peace on earth.

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